May 25, 2016

Brad Johnson's premier dynasty advice for week 8. These MLB prospects and breakout candidates should make fantasy impacts in 2016 as fantasy baseball sleepers.

Welcome back to the Dynasty Review. The purpose of this column is to advise you on up-and-comers in dynasty leagues. Last week included news of Tony Kemp's promotion (2-for-9, one run) and Robbie Grossman hitting free agency (signed with Twins, 4-for-9, one home run, three runs, three RBI).

This week, let's take a closer look at a couple pseudo-under-the-radar Dodgers. Now is not the ideal time to trade for either of them - neither player is a true buy-low candidate. However, they both could soon be worth twice as much as they are now.

Editors Note: Check out all of RotoBaller's MLB prospects analysis here. You can also head over to the prospect rankings dashboard. Our Rankings Assistant is a handy free tool where you can find team-specific prospect breakdowns, tiered positional rankings, 500+ player outlooks, dynasty ranks and more - all in one easy place.

Dynasty Advice for Week 8

Trayce Thompson - Los Angeles Dodgers

Most of the players profiled in this column are minor leaguers. Occasionally, a major leaguer merits discussion. Rarely will they have so active a role as Thompson. The right-handed 25-year-old is hitting a luck neutral .280/.343/.559 with seven home runs in 102 plate appearances. He's carved out an everyday role in the Dodgers outfield batting fifth or sixth.

His 2016 success comes on the heels of a breakout 2015 campaign with the White Sox. Thompson was never supposed to be more than a fifth outfielder. Many sources didn't give him even that much credit. He's looking more and more like a core performing corner outfielder.

Is it real or a mirage? Thompson has partially benefited from soft matchups, but the rest of the Dodgers have posted indifferent numbers against the same pitchers. One portion of his stat line is out of place - his .280 ISO. Dodgers Stadium is tough on right-handed power.

Strikeouts could become a problem too. Prior to 2015, minor league pitchers regularly induced huge strikeout rates out of Thompson. It's possible he made an adjustment last season to fix the problem. His major league plate discipline numbers could support a wide range of strikeout rates based on the quality of his pitch recognition.

Overall, the statistical profile is mixed. Thompson could be an everyday bat with 20 home run, 10 stolen base, and .280 average ability. There's also a real chance that major league pitchers will discover a fatal flaw, pushing him into Roger Bernadina territory.

Merely asking for him in a trade will cause his owner to value him more. Your best opportunity to acquire him will be as a throw-in to a larger trade.

Advice: Speculate

 
Jose De Leon - Los Angeles Dodgers

After missing a month with a sprained ankle, De Leon's Triple-A debut went swimmingly - five innings, two hits, one walk, and nine strikeouts. Unfortunately, he went on the disabled list with shoulder discomfort in mid-May. To date, he's only made the one start.

De Leon draws less press than fellow Dodgers prospect Julio Urias, but he's potentially more ready to provide fantasy value this season. First comes health. The 23-year-old has to get back on the field and prove he can pitch every fifth day.

While the talk around Urias suggests he'll be used as a reliever this season, De Leon looks like a better bet to debut in the rotation. He's described as possessing three plus pitches - a 92-96 mph fastball, a quality changeup, and a two-plane slurve. There's some disagreement over the quality of his command. Some sources call it iffy while others say he can command when opponents force him to - he's just rarely challenged in the minors.

De Leon looks like a mid-rotation floor, ace ceiling starter yet he draws less attention as a mid-season call up target than iffier prospects like Jake Thompson (Phillies). See if the injury let's you acquire him cheaply. He's a good target for owners beginning a rebuild. A solid, older pitcher like John Lackey might turn the trick.

Advice: Buy

Rapid Fire

Byron Buxton - Minnesota Twins

Buxton is stuck in Quad-A limbo. After a demotion earlier this season, he's compiled a .315/.370/.500 slash at Triple-A with three home runs and four stolen bases. He also has a .400 BABIP and 24 percent strikeout rate. While his talent overwhelms minor league pitching, the cracks are still visible. He struck out in 24 of 49 major league plate appearances. There's no need to panic - the 22-year-old is still oozing fantasy potential. Be prepared to suffer through some growing pain over the next couple seasons.

Daniel Wright - Cincinnati Reds

Wright will make his major league debut today. Scouting reports are nearly nonexistent. We do have access to numbers and those are mildly encouraging. He's a command and control type with decent strikeout rates and low walk rates. When this statistical profile exists in a non-prospect, it usually means their stuff won't translate to the majors. Sometimes it does. Be sure to tune in to the game.

Nick Delmonico - Chicago White Sox

Entering 2016, analysts were beginning to write off Delmonico due to middling power numbers. Not so fast. He's posted a .333/.395/.638 line with eight home runs, 14 doubles, and two triples at Double-A (155 plate appearances). The 23-year-old is due for a promotion to Triple-A. If he continues to post power numbers, he'll be a candidate for third base or designated hitter reps in 2017.

Casey Gillaspie - Tampa Bay Rays

Another guy scouts were starting to turn sour on, Gillaspie is raking with a .318/.445/.589 line in 164 Triple-A plate appearances. He's popped eight home runs and 11 doubles with as many walks as strikeouts. Gillaspie was the 20th overall pick in the 2014 draft. High draft picks always get extra opportunities. We should see him move up to Triple-A before long.

David Dahl - Colorado Rockies

Dahl suffered a scary season-ending injury last season. In his return to action, he looks better than ever. His second stint at Double-A has resulted in a .280/.365/.567 line with 11 home runs and 12 stolen bases in 180 plate appearances. Dahl has that sexy mix of power and speed every fantasy owner desires. Unfortunately, there is a lot of swing-and-miss in his bat. The Rockies needed Trevor Story despite his own whiff problems, but they'll probably let Dahl solve his issues in the minors. Dahl is another guy due for a promotion to Triple-A.

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